1 Jun 2023

Auckland Mayor reveals revised budget plan at chaotic event

From Checkpoint, 5:07 pm on 1 June 2023

Carrot and stick of shame was the theme of Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's revised budget reveal.

He's offering to reverse planned cuts to the arts, social services and community boards but only if the city sells its $2 billion-worth of Auckland ariport shares.

But a bigger rates rise is still on the cards. In a chaotic event, Mr Brown laid out his plan to plug the city's $325 million budget hole.

His rambling speech was peppered with barbs aimed at everyone from the media to council agencies, and ended with a roll call of specific councillors he urged to get onboard with his plan.

Our reporter Finn Blackwell and camera operator Marika Khabazi were there.